Ahead of Budget 2025, The central government gives another big gift for some working employees. Govt hikes 20% allowance. Actually There is good news for those brave soldiers of Central Paramilitary Forces who are deployed in VIP security. Only soldiers and officers who are part of the security detail for VIPs with Z Plus and Z Plus with Advanced Security Liaison (ASL) will receive the Special Security Allowance (SSA).
This allowance will be set at 20% of their basic pay. For a while now, those in the VIP security wing of the Central Paramilitary Forces have been pushing for this allowance. Currently, only 55% of the Special Security Allowance is granted to the Special Protection Group (SPG). The Finance Ministry’s Expenditure Department has given the green light to the Union Home Ministry’s proposal.
However, not everyone is on board with this plan. The main issue is that the allowance will only be available while on duty. There are many individuals receiving VIP security from central forces, but this special allowance will only go to those assigned to Z Plus and Z Plus (ASL) security. For those soldiers or officers on VIP duty, their monthly salary could see an increase ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000.
Sources indicate that only five individuals in the country currently have Z Plus (ASL) security: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Gursharan Kaur, the wife of former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh. The CRPF provides security for all of them, with around forty to fifty personnel assigned to each individual. In total, that adds up to more than two hundred personnel.
There are 300 personnel designated for reserve strength and travel security. The Advance Security Liaison (ASL) represents a high-level security protocol. This initiative involves collaboration among Central Security Forces, State Police, Intelligence Agencies, and various other security-related departments. The ASL security framework encompasses both internal and external security measures, utilizing modern security technologies and equipment.
The number of individuals receiving Z Plus security is relatively small, currently totaling around 23. Each of these individuals is accompanied by more than forty soldiers. When considering the overall manpower, the total exceeds 900, with approximately 250 soldiers allocated for reserve strength and travel security. A recent directive states that soldiers assigned to the VIP security wing of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will receive a special security allowance amounting to 20% of their basic salary. While sources confirm this information, it is crucial to analyze the directive thoroughly. This allowance will not be extended to all soldiers in VIP security; it will be limited to those assigned to Z Plus and Z Plus with ASL security.
According to sources, the allowance will not apply to all personnel in the VIP security battalion, but only to those actively on duty. Furthermore, it has been specified that only individuals who previously had Special Protection Group (SPG) and National Security Guard (NSG) security but later transitioned to CAPF security will qualify for this allowance. This raises concerns, as it implies that only a select group of soldiers will benefit from the Special Security Allowance. If the allowance is calculated at 20% of the basic pay without including the Dearness Allowance (DA), the financial benefit may be minimal. Previously, SPG personnel received a 50% allowance based on their basic pay and DA, which was significantly advantageous. Currently, even the allowance for SPG has been reduced to 55% of the basic pay, excluding DA.